Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-24
The Animus Of the Andover Decision.

The Boston Post and Herald reveal an
open secret In making public the fact that
the condemnation of Prof. Smyth of An
dover, is the result of the personal ami
mostly of a vindictive old man. who, never
conciliatory, has grown bitter instead of
kindly as age has cooled his blood The
Herald says:
1t does not aid the public judgment up
on their decision that Prof. SmyUh has
been visited with condemnation, to the
exclusion of his associates. when it is
known that his associates wrote the OBJ
Doxious words for which he is condemn
ed and that they are excused for opinions
as to which he is only constructively
guilty The small plea of Dr. Eustis that
with what they said actually before him,
he could not consent to their condemnation
because he was not present in bodily form
at the hours when the other professors
were up for trial, is worthy of the man
who makes it, and goes far to give an in.
depreciation of the animus of this trial
which has so far been Il disgrace to the
Christian religion. 1t partly reveals what
| has cropped out in other ways that be
hind it there has been persistent and
poorly concealed antagonism against Prof
Smyth on the part of one who has used
Dr. Wellman and others as his catspaws in
all these proceedings The point has seem
ed to be not to vindicate the seminary from
heresy, but to find grounds for wreaking
personal vengeance upon the condemned
professor by party who is well known
to have kept his hatred in a vigorous con-
dition through well nigh quarter of Il
century. III is the outcome of personal
issue between man and man. What is the
language of every private circle where
this trial is now discussed need no longer
! be confined to conversation. DR.. Smyth
/ has been the victim of an unrighteous an
tagonism nearly ever since he has held an
AndOver professorship and his antagonist
has left no stone unturned to break him
down. The turning of the condemnation
against him, to the exclusion of his asso.
ciates, is a show. of the venom which has
= long existed, and has once and again been
displayed behind the scenes.
The Post says Professor Park, br''-
liant and powerful, fought the old o, mo
doXy till he laid DR.. Woods, and tten
turned his attention to the work of rev is
ing New England theology for the last
time. When he thought he had done he
thing, and gotten his definitions so nice
and exact that he could shade Calvin'sm
into Arminianism and Arminiauism lit }
Calvinism, and no board of visitors could
catch him, he then began to adore his
system of theology rs a darling child.
But at length The trustees did n tning
after long deliberation for which he never
forgave them; they elected lIebect &.
Smyth a professor against his p"o1ourced
opposition. From that day to iris he has
been. so to speak, on the war rath ard
after the scalp of Prof Smyth. But Pot
Smyth kept on his way, aud has eslGed
for himself on eminent name. He b9s
ventured to go where he believed hoIest
investigation and maniul loyalty to truth
carried him. When his brother, New
man sSmyth, was elected to the chair of
theology as DR.. Parks successor, the Old
war veteran went round to summon the
clans and tribes to the rescue. Ire de-
nOmiuational journal fell into line at the
first commanding look of the theological
Achilles; then the secretaries of the
American board, then other depomina-
tlonal forces. When, two years ago, the
term OF service as visitor of the Hon.
Charles T. Russell was about to expire
was elected rs his successor. There was
great JOY that day in the conservative
camp. 1t was at once said, now we have
two visitors on our sid9-a prophecy how
accurate in the light of to-day Stimuli
taneously with the movement in Tie
American board to depose Egbert C.
Smyth from the prudential committee WAS
the movement by the prosecutors to de-
pose him from the professors chair. They
have done the work by the methods best
known to Theological hittefs. 1t is not
CHRISTIAN thcrlu-y, but systematlc-that
Is, in it, arts.
10 these disclosures it is ouly necessal y
to add the further one, that PROF. Parks
opposition to the election of Pro-. Smyth,
is well nurerstUod to have been due to the
fact hat he wanted the chair Of church
history Tor himself. The majority o. the
board Of visitors are merely the catspews
OF DR.. Park